Flooder



H. W. SEMON FLOODER April 12, 1955 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Filed March 10,1947 April 12, 1955 H. w. SEMON 2,705,919

FLOODER Filed March l0, l947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent()fiice Patented Apr. 12, 1955 FLOODER Howard W. Semon, Washington, D.C. Application March 10, 1947, Serial No. 733,709

10 Claims. (Cl. 10210) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec.266) This invention relates to a flooder for a marine mine adapted tofloat on or beneath the surface of the water in which the mine is causedto sink at the expiration of a predetermined interval of time as aresult of water admitted to the interior of the mine.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a flooder for afloating mine in which electroresponsive explosive means are adapted torupture the flooder as the mine is disarmed thereby to cause the mine tosink within the water.

The present invention provides new and improved means for flooding afloating mine when a predetermined period of time has elapsed afterplanting the mine in a body of water, the flooder device preferablybeing operated by a circuit closing device as the mine is disarmed. Whenthe circuit closing device operates, means arranged within the flooderare adapted to fracture a sealed port and permit a sufiicient amount ofwater to enter therethrough to flood the mine casing, thus decreasingthe buoyancy of the mine to such an extent as to cause the mine to sinkto the bed of a body of water thereby decreasing the possibility ofdiscovery of the mine by the enemy.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved device for flooding the casing of a floating body inresponse to an electrical impulse.

Another object is the provision of a flooder for a floating mine inwhich means responsive to an electrical impulse are employed forfracturing the flooder in predetermined time delayed relation withrespect to the planting of the mine in a body of Water.

Still another object is the provision of a flooder for a floating minein which electroresponsive explosive means controlled by the disarmingswitch of the mine are adapted to rupture a flooder thereby to admit asuflicient amount of water into the mine casing to cause the mine tosink within the water.

A still further object is the provision of a new and improved device forrendering a sub-floating mine or body inactive and sinkable by floodingwhen a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the mine has beenplanted in a body of water.

Still other objects, advantages and improvements will be apparent fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, of which:

Fig. l is a view of a sub-floating moored mine employing the flooder ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the flooder of the presentinvention showing the manner in which the flooder is secured to the minecasing;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the flooder taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the flooder taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3; and

Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically a circuit arrangement suitable foruse With the device of the present invention for sinking a sub-floatingmine as the mine is disarmed.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings there is shown thereon asub-floating mine indicated generally by the numeral 11, comprising acasing 12 enclosing a floatation chamber and having a mooring bale 13pivotally secured thereto as at 14 and provided with an eye or shackle15 to which is attached an anchor 16 by a mooring cable 17.

The mine casing 12 has enclosed therein a mine firing mechanism, Fig. 5,including an electrical control circuit therefor having incorporatedtherein a time delay switch mechanism for applying an electrical impulseto the flooder 19 of the present invention in predetermined time delayedrelation to the planting of the mine.

The flooder 19 comprises an elongated frangible body or casing 21 havinga threaded stem 22 of reduced diameter integrally formed thereon, thestem being disposed in an opening 23 provided in the casing 12 andextending outwardly therefrom thereby to provide means for securing theflooder to the mine casing 12, the securing means including a nut 24threaded on the stem 22 and into abutting engagement with the casing 12,Figs. 2 and 3. A nut 25 is employed for locking the nut 24 on the stem22. An arrangement is thus provided whereby the flooder of the presentinvention may be employed with various types of mines and other floatingbodies without extensive modification of the casing, it being merelynecessary to provide an aperture within the casing to adapt the casingfor mounting the flooder thereon.

Surrounding the stem 22 and clamped between the casing 12 and a flange26 integrally formed on the body 21 is a compressible gasket 27 composedof any material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as rubber orthe like, the gasket having a nipple 28 formed therc and extending intothe opening 23 of the casing 12. The gasket is compressed by the nut 24thereby to form a water proof joint between the flooder and the casing12 and prevent moisture from seeping into the mine casing.

A centrally disposed well 29 is formed in the inner end of the body 21having arranged therein an electroresponsive detonator 31, the detonatorbeing maintained therein by a gland nut 32. Disposed between one end ofthe gland nut and one end of the detonator is a protecting andcushioning gasket 33 composed of any flexible material suitable for thepurpose such, for example, as rubber or the like.

The gland nut 32 is provided with a centrally disposed bore 35, withinwhich are disposed a pair of lead-in wires 36 and 37 for establishing anelectrical connection between the detonator 31 and a terminal block 38,the wires being secured to the block by screws 39. The lead-in wires 36and 37 are respectively connected to a pair of conductors 41 and 42 forproviding a firing connection to the detonator as the mine is disarmed,as will be more clearly apparent as the description proceeds. Theterminal block 38 is secured to a bracket 43 by screws 44 or the like,the bracket being secured to the flooder body 21 in any suitable manneras by welding the parts together, Fig. 2, or formed integrallytherewith.

A centrally disposed well 45 is formed in the outer end of the body 21and extends a predetermined distance therein, the bores 29 and 45 beingseparated by a relatively thin wall 46, Fig. 3. A circumferentialV-shaped groove 47 is formed in the body opposite the bore 45 andadjacent the bottom of the well 45, the groove being formed in such amanner as to substantially bisect the body 21 and thus weaken the bodyat the base of the groove. Further weakening of the body 21 isaccomplished by the provision of a pair of V-shaped grooves 48 and 49,the grooves being longitudinally disposed therein and extending from thecircumferential groove 47 to the lower extremity of the body 21, Figs. 2and 3.

By this arrangement the body 21 is provided with portions or segmentsweakened sufficiently to permit fracturing or rupturing thereof when apredetermined amount of pressure is applied thereto internally, thepressure being adapted to be produced when the detonator is fired inresponse to an electrical impulse received from the contacts of the timedelay mechanism. The violent force from the exploded detonator exerts asuflicient amount of pressure on the weakened portions of the body 21 tocause such portions to be blown free from the unweakened or upperportion thereof. It will be understood, however, that the weakenedportions of the body are completely severed from the unweakened portionsby the explosion at the base of the circumferential groove 47 when theexplosion occurs, the body being separated at a point in advance of thebottom of the well 45. When this occurs the Well 45 becomes an open portand a sufiicient amount of water will enter the mine casing through theport to cause the mine to sink to the bed of the body of water therebyto increase the difficulty of recovery of the mine by the enemy.

Fig. illustrates diagrammatically a circuit arrangement suitable for usewith the present invention, the arrangement including anelectrolytically controlled time delayed switch mechanism 51 which maybe similar to the arrangement shown and described in the copendingapplication of L. E. Kissinger et al., Serial No. 476,062, filedFebruary 16, 1943, now Patent No. 2,526,670. The switch 51 is adapted tointerrupt and/or to close one or more control circuits and isparticularly adapted for use as a disarming device for a mine in whichthe mine is disarmed when a predetermined period of time has elapsedafter the mine has been planted in a body of water. Arranged in thecircuit generally indicated by the reference character 50 and controlledthereby is the flooder of the present invention.

The mine is disarmed by disengagement of contact spring 52 from thecontact 53 as the member 55 is moved outwardly by the spring 56 inresponse to the severance of the anode 57 by the electrolytic action ofthe device. As the member 55 continues to move outwardly, contact spring52 engages contact 54. When this occurs a firing circuit is completedthrough the detonator from the positive terminal of battery B by way ofconductor 58, contacts 52 and 54, conductor 41, detonator lead 36,detonator 31, detonator lead 37, conductor 42, arming clock contacts 59,conductor 61 and thence to negative terminal of battery B thereby tofire the detonator, the force of the explosion being suflicient tofracture the flooder and permit a sufficient amount of water to enterthe interior of the mine casing to cause the mine to sink.

The operation of the device when employed for sinking a sub-floatingmine will now be described. Let it be assumed by way of example that themine has been launched in a body of water and the arming clock has beenset in operation by a hydrostat 60 to close the contacts 59 thereof andcomplete the arming cycle, it being understood, however, that theaforesaid switch 51 is included in the arming and disarming circuit. Themine will remain armed for a predetermined period of time controlled bythe electrolytic switch 51 and if not exploded by a ship in the meantimethe mine is disarmed by the aforesaid switch 51 when the time period haselapsed. When this occurs an electrical impulse is supplied to thedetonator 31 of the flooder from battery B by way of circuit 50,including contacts 52, 54 and 59. Thus the detonator is fired and theforce of the explosion therefrom will be suflicient to fracture theweakened portions of the flooder body 21 thereby to permit a sufficientamount of water to enter the sub-floating mine and cause the mine tosink to the bed of the body of water.

Although the invention has been described With particularity inconnection with a moored floating mine in accordance with the preferredembodiment thereof, it may be used advantageously with mines of the freefloating type, it being merely necessary to arrange the time delaymechanism 51 for closure of the control circuit to the flooder withinthe period of time determined by the requirements of international lawand the conditions of use of the device.

Briefly stated in summary, the present invention contemplates theprovision of a device for flooding a subfloating mine in which explosivemeans responsive to an electrical impulse are employed for fracturingthe flooding device in predetermined time delayed relation with respectto the planting of the mine in a body of water thereby to unseal a portand sink the mine.

While the invention disclosed has been described with reference to aparticular example thereof which give satisfactory results, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains,after understanding the invention, that various changes andmodifications may be employed without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, in the appendedclaims to cover all such changes and modifications.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government of the United States of America forgovernmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A device for flooding a floating marine mine with water comprising acasing secured to the mine and having a plurality of weakened portions,a normally sealed port in communication with said water and extendinginto said casing and bordering on said weakened portions for admitting asufficient amount of the water into the interior of the mine to causethe mine to sink when saizweakened portions have been fractured and saidport is unsealed in response thereto, an electroresponsive detonatorenclosed within said weakened portions of the casing and adapted tofracture said weakened portions as the detonator is fired in response toan electrical impulse, and means for establishing an external electricalconnection to the detonator over which said impulse is received.

2. A device for flooding a floating mine with water comprising a casing,said casing having plurality of grooves formed therein and a pluralityof weakened portions bordering on said grooves, a normally sealed portarranged within said casing in communication with said water andbordering on said grooves and disposed within said weakened portions foradmitting a sufficient amount of said water into the interior of themine to cause the mine to sink when said port is unsealed, said weakenedportions being adapted to be fractured sufiiciently to unseal said portin response to a predetermined amount of pressure exerted thereon,detonating means responsive to an electrical impulse and enclosed bysaid weakened portions for producing said pressure as the detonatingmeans is fired, and means for establishing an external electricalconnection to the detonating means whereby the detonating means isadapted to be fired by said impulse.

3. In a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a minecasing, a frangible device secured to said casing, a normally sealedport disposed within said frangible device and adapted to admit aquantity of water into the interior of said mine casing suflicient tosink said mine when the device is fractured and said port is unsealed,means for securing said frangible device to the casing, detonating meansenclosed within said frangible device and responsive to an electricalimpulse for fracturing said device and unsealing said port whendetonated, a control circuit including a source of power connected tosaid detonating means, a normally open switch included in said circuit,and means including an electrolytic device connected to said source ofpower for closing said switch and applying said impulse to saiddetonating means when a predetermined period of time has elapsed afterthe mine has been planted thereby to fire said detonating means.

4. In a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a minecasing, a frangible device secured to said casing, a normally sealedport disposed within said frangible device and adapted to admit waterinto the interior of the mine casing when the device is fractured andthe port is unsealed thereby to cause the mine to sink to the bed of abody of water, an electroresponsive detonator enclosed within saidfrangible device in alignment with and in spaced relation with respectto said port for fracturing the device and unsealing said port whenfired in response to an electrical impulse received thereby, a controlcircuit including a source of power connected to said detonator, a pairof normally open contacts included in said circuit, and means includingan electrolytic device including said circuit and connected to saidsource of power for closing said contacts and for applying said impulseto the detonator when a predetermined period of time has elapsed afterthe mine has been planted.

5. in a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a minecasing having a sealed floatation chamber therein, a frangible devicesecured to said casing adapted to admit water into said chamber whenfractured thereby to cause the mine to sink to the bed of a body ofwater, means includinga tubular threaded stem for securing saidfrangible device to the casing in watertight relation therewith, anormally sealed port disposed within said tubular stem in communicationwith said water for sealing said chamber and for admitting a sufliclentamount of water therein to cause the mine to sink to the bed of the bodyof water when said port is unsealed, a source of power, anelectroresponsive detonator arranged within the frangible device andadapted to fracture the device and unseal said port when fired inresponse to an electrical impulse received from said source of power, acontrol circuit connected to the source of power and to said detonator,a pair of normally open contacts included within said circuit andadapted to be closed when a predetermined period of time has elapsedafter the mine has been planted, and means including an electrolyticswitch connected to said source of power for closing said contacts whensaid predetermined period of time has elapsed thereby to fire thedetonator and fiood said chamber.

6. In a fiooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a minecasing, a firing mechanism arranged within said casing, a source ofelectrical power, an arming circuit for said firing mechanism, meanshydrostatically controlled for closing said arming circuit from saidsource of power to said firing mechanism as the mine is planted in abody of water, an electrolytic switch having an anode adapted to besevered by electrolytic action, means controlled by said circuit closingmeans for initiating said electrolytic action simultaneously with theclosing of said arming circuit, a pair of normally closed contacts onsaid electrolytic switch included in said arming circuit, means fordisengaging said normally closed contacts as the anode is severed, apair of normally open contacts on said switch and adapted to be closedby said last named means as said normally closed contacts aredisengaged, a frangible device secured to said casing adapted to admitsuflicient water therein to sink the mine when the device is fractured,an electroresponsive detonator arranged within said frangible device forfracturing the device as the detonator is fired, and a firing circuitfor said detonator including said arming circuit closing means andadapted to be closed as the normally open contacts are closed thereby tofire the detonator from said source of electrical power.

7. A device for flooding a floating marine mine with water comprising acasing secured to the mine, said casing having a plurality of groovesformed therein and a plurality of weakened portions bordering on saidgrooves, a normally sealed port in communication with said water andextending a predetermined amount into said casing and bordering on saidgrooves and weakened portions for admitting the water into the interiorof the mine when said weakened portions are fractured and said port isunsealed, and a detonator enclosed within said weakened portions inalignment with and in spaced relation with respect to said port forfracturing the casing at said weakened portions and unsealing said portwhen the detonator is fired.

8. A device for flooding a floating mine with water after the mine hasbeen planted therein and a predetermined period of time has elapsedcomprising a casing, a normally sealed port arranged within said casingin communication with said water and extending into the casing apredetermined amount for admitting a sufiicient amount of water into theinterior of the mine to cause the mine to sink as said port is unsealed,said casing having a circumferential V-shaped groove arranged thereonand substantially bisecting the casing at a point adjacent said port,said casing having a pair of longitudinally disposed V-shaped groovesarranged thereon in communication with said circumferential groove andextending therefrom to one end of the casing, said grooves providing aplurality of weakened portions n the casing adapted to be fracturedsufiiciently to unseal said port, an electroresponsive detonatorenclosed within said weakened portions in alignment with and in spacedrelation with respect to said port for fracturing said weakened portionsand unsealing the port when fired in response to an electrical impulsereceived thereby, and means including an electrolytic switch operativelyconnected to said detonator for applying said impulse thereto when saidpredetermined period of time has elapsed.

9. A device for flooding a floating mine with water after the mine hasbeen planted therein and a predetermined period of time has elapsedcomprising a tubular casing, a wall disposed midway between therespective end portions of said casing and providing an upper well and alower well therein, said upper well being in communication with saidwater for admitting a sufficient amount of water into the interior ofthe mine to cause the mine to sink to the bed of the body of water whensaid wall is fractured, said casing having a plurality of grooves formedtherein adjacent said lower Well and a plurality of weakened portionsbordering on said grooves, said casing being adapted to be fractured atsaid weakened portions, an electroresponsive detonator arranged withinsaid lower well and enclosed Within said weakened portions in alignmentwith said upper well for fracturing said wall and weakened portionssufficiently to unseal said upper well when fired in response to anelectrical impulse received thereby, and means including an electrolyticswitch operatively connected to said detonator for applying said impulseto the detonator when said predetermined period of time has elapsed.

10. In a flooder for a sub-floating marine mine, in combination, a minecasing, 21 firing mechanism arranged within said casing, a source ofelectrical power, an arming circuit for said firing mechanism, meanshydrostatically controlled for closing said arming circuit from saidsource of power to said firing mechanism as the mine is planted in abody of water, an electrolytic switch having an anode adapted to besevered by electrolytic action, means controlled by said circuit closingmeans for initiating said electrolytic action simultaneously with. theclosing of said arming circuit, a pair of normally closed contacts onsaid electrolytic switch included in said arming circuit, means fordisengaging said normally closed contacts as the anode is severed, apair of normally open contacts on said switch and adapted to be closedby said last named means as said normally closed contacts aredisengaged, a device secured to said casing in watertight relationtherewith, a normally sealed port arranged Within said device incommunication with said water and extending into the casing apredetermined amount for admitting a sufficient amount of water into theinterior of the mine casing to cause the mine to sink as said port isunsealed, said device having a plurality of grooves formed therein and aplurality of weakened portions bordering on said grooves and adapted tobe fractured and unseal said port, an electroresponsive detonatorenclosed in said weakened portions adjacent the grooves for fracturingthe device at said weakened portion thereof as the detonator is fired,and a firing circuit for said detonator including said arming circuitclosing means and adapted to be closed as the normally open contacts areclosed thereby to fire the detonator from said source of electricalpower.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS913,524 Leon Feb. 23, 1909 1,292,542 Troubtschaninoif Jan. 28, 19191,856,431 Rolland May 3, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 440,176 France Apr. 27,1912 307,066 Germany June 2, 1920

